The Queen Mary welcomes back the 5th annual West Coast BBQ Classic (WCBC) for a finger lickin’ afternoon full of barbeque grillin’ onSaturday, May 14 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The WCBC invites barbeque experts and amateur grill masters to take part in a classic showdown that will leave your taste buds filled with the unmistakable sweet ‘n smoky flavors of BBQ.

The WCBC will feature BBQ styles from across the country including slow-cooked hickory barbeque from Texas and southern Memphis-style barbeque. The competition is an official California-State-Certified, KCBS-Sanctioned, BBQ Championship and will bring Southern California’s most accomplished Champion Pitmasters together to compete for a $10,500 cash prize and the coveted title of West Coast BBQ Pitmaster Champion.

Whether you are a barbecue aficionado or simply a foodie fan, the West Coast BBQ Classic offers something for everyone with delicious BBQ samples for only $2 each, live music, backyard games, contests and a merchant market. Live entertainment will be provided by the country sensation, Scotty Mac Band. Join in the fun and participate in the watermelon or cobbler eating contests. Children are invited to Kids Country offering games, a bounce house, face painters and potato sack races just for little BBQ fans.

Cost: General value pack tickets are $20 each through April 30 and include event admission plus five tasting tickets and access to the Queen Mary ship. AfterApril 30 tickets increase to $25. VIP value pack tickets are $35 through May and include one-hour early event admission plus five tasting tickets and access to the Queen Mary ship. After May 1 tickets increase to $40. Event parking is $15.

If you have never been to the Mexico then please consider putting it on your to do list. Sample the flavors of Mexico in liquid form like Tequila, Mezcal and agua frescas. Try chapulines (grasshoppers), a regional favorite of Oaxaca. There are usually ceviches, tortas, tamales and tacos.

The Taste of Mexico seemed scaled down but this is not a bad thing. Instead of a day and night event it returned to its humble beginnings as a night event only. What I loved about it was the homier family style feel. There were new touches like table and long bar tables. There was amazing long salsa bar setup and long lines waiting to devour the sauces.

Sweet Additions include La Monarca Bakery, Artesana Ice Pops, Mr. Churro, Frijolitos Mobile Coffee Cart and freshly spun cotton candy made with tamarind, mango and chocolate flavors by Love Swirls Cotton Candy. A complete list of this year’s participants can be found on The Taste of Mexico Association’s website.

Photo by Multiculturalcookingnetwork (Crystal Johnson)

New to the Event is The Taste of Mexico MERCADO, a one day market showcasing Los Angeles’ finest local products, artisanal edibles, home goods and apparel. Confirmed vendors include: Mala by Patty Rodriguez, Lil’ Libros, LA Libreria and more…

Already on its 42nd year, the Los Angeles Korean Festival has become a yearly event promoting the Korean culture as well as providing an instrument in which the different cultures of Los Angeles can come together in fun and entertainment. With the different cultural communities in Los Angeles and free admission, the Los Angeles Korean Festival does a wonderful job in promoting the Korean culture as well as advocating the cultural diversity, a characteristic that defines the city of Los Angeles is known for. With the idea of multiculturalism in mind, the Los Angeles Korean Festival has grown to be one of the largest ethnic celebrations in the nation.

There are festivals—-and then there’s LA Korean Festival. By weaving a deep-rooted fascination with culture, community, history and humanity through everything we do—from the expo to the global adventures we undertake —LA Korean Festival Foundation transcend run-of-the-mill with experimental and diverse take on a culture-based Festival. Burdened stereotype and presumptions of it being too traditional and “boring”; anticipation and the element of surprise possess the Festival goers with an utter sense of excitement with every year’s never-ending improvements, the LA Korean Festival is about to rock the city of Los Angeles.

The most important folkloric event in Los Angeles, The 8th Edition of ‘La Feria de Los Moles’ (Mole Fair), brings more flavor and delicious mole this year from Puebla & Oaxaca.

This delicious event includes a special presentation on the origin of the famous mole, which is one of Puebla & Oaxaca’s main dishes, a delicious and fun gastronomic debate amongst judges from the Mexican states known for their mole, and tastings of the different mole styles for all in attendance. Which mole do you like the most?

On October 4, La Placita Olvera will once again witness this celebratory feast filled with flavor and featuring an array of delicious moles that go from sweet to salty and hot. This year, for the first time an array of delicious pastries and other dishes will be prepared right along with mole, the unique star of the event.. Mole is a dish that originated from the collision of indigenous and Spanish cultures in Mexico.

You are invited to join the flavor of an event that brings together a record assistance of over 30,000 people of all ages, generations and cultures, offering more than 13 different Mexican moles to enjoy.

The delicious event starts at 10:00 a.m. and lasts until 7:00 pm. taking place at Olvera St., Los Angeles. Entrance is free and dishes are available for purchase.

The Feast of San Gennaro LA was originally created in 2002 under the auspices of The San Gennaro Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit created by celebrity Jimmy Kimmel, producer Douglas DeLuca and restaurateur Frankie Competelli, along with some of Los Angeles’ most prominent Italian-American citizens. Although the Foundation closed its doors in 2014, its mission, to emulate St. Gennaro, patron saint of Naples who worked tirelessly to help people in need, continues to this day by partnering with various local charities that help underprivileged children and homeless in LA, as well as to provide entertainment and cultural enrichment to the community through its cultural outreach program.

Where: The festival venue is conveniently located across the street from the Hollywood and Highland complex and Metro Red Line, at 1651 N. Highland Ave, one block south of Hollywood Blvd.

When: The Feast will be held September 25-27, 2015 (Fri 5pm-Midnight, Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun 11am-10pm). General admission is $5 and kids under 12 are Free.

You don’t want to miss one of the best. if not the best foodie events of the year. I speak with experience, this event has never disappointed. It has a block party feel as you walk down those imaginary streets of the Paramount Studio Lots. Every scheduled event time has a different feel. The Saturday day event always has the anticipation of kick off. Saturday night, OMG I love this (See Video). I’m from Brooklyn, NY so when you’ve got a DJ mixing on the fire escape while fumes filled with different aromas of street foods ascend in the air then been you’ve been transported to New York as only Hollywood can do make believe. Picture brownstones and the multi-cultural foods everywhere. The Day events have more of a family feel especially Sunday; however, Sunday niight is probably my least favorite. It is like closing time at a bar when you get a sense that the party is over. But if this is your only chance to escape to the event then by all means just go. The perk is Sunday evening tends to be the least crowded which means shorter lines. – by Crystal A. Johnson

The city’s boldest bites and cutting-edge libations come together in a celebration of pairings highlighted by demos from Love & Salt’s Fiorelli and Marianella; The Church Key’s Steven Fretz and Devon Espinosa; and Petit Trois’ Ludo Lefebvre. Belgian Chef Daniel Joly and Master Beer Sommelier Marc Stroobandt will be on hand for a food and beer pairing demo